Summary: <p> <img alt="What is Kata?" class="alignright size-full wp-image-340" src="http://blog.iainabernethy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/what-is-kata.jpg" style="margin: 5px 12px; width: 198px; float: right; height: 149px;" title="what-is-kata">In this latest podcast we look at what kata actually is and what purpose it serves. Kata can be a kind of shadow-fighting, a physical exercise, a form of moving mediation, a pointless dance, a relic that should be consigned to history, a repository of forgotten “secrets”, and a whole host of other things besides. All of these views on what kata is can have merit depending upon what is meant by “kata”. However, none of them get to the heart of the matter in my view. In this podcast I explain what I see as the core purpose of kata.</p> <p> As part of the discussion that leads to my definition of kata, we also discuss how kata came into existence and the nature of the link between kata, kumite and combat. I also look at the relationship between principles and techniques as it relates to kata. Whether you agree with my final definition of kata or not, I hope that you enjoy the podcast and find it interesting and entertaining.</p> <p> I’d like to thank you all for your support of the podcasts. All feedback and suggestions are always gratefully received (iain@iainabernethy.com) and I’ll be back with another one very soon!</p> <p> All the best,</p> <p> Iain</p>
